My legacy started as a small bud that soon started to blossom early on in my life. At 12 years old, wearing ponytails, red Converse, and a Justin Bieber t-shirt, I skipped into the YMCA, ready to become the ping pong champion of Sikeston, MO. Little did I know that day would change my life. Amid what I thought would be a simple ping pong tournament, I encountered an opponent whose words would ignite a passion within me that I never knew I had and inspire me to change my community. During the tournament, while other girls chatted about school dances, my opponent shared she had never been to a dance because her parents couldn’t afford a dress. I walked swiftly out of the YMCA that day with a heavy heart but a determined purpose: I would make sure that every young woman in my community could attend their school dance wearing a beautiful dress and feel confident, loved, included, and empowered. That night, I started to shine my light, I created Leilani’s Dream Dresses—a business dedicated to providing affordable and free dresses to young women. What started as a spark of inspiration has since grown into a thriving small business that has touched the lives of many in my rural community by spreading kindness. Over the past eight years, I’ve transformed my garage into a dress boutique every spring. What I love most about this endeavor is not just the dresses but the confidence and self-worth it instills in the young women I serve. Since the beginning, I’ve donated 100% of rental profits to the Bulldog Pantry, which provides essential items to children in need, including coats, shoes, hygiene products, food and school supplies. I’ve contributed large donations and over 300 books to foster a love of learning among local youth. My business has also allowed me to organize events like a prom fashion show for residents of a local long-term care facility. Watching the residents clap, smile, and light up with excitement is a moment I will treasure forever. It reaffirmed my belief that kindness and love have the power to make this world a better place. I am currently a full-time student at Southeast Missouri State University, where I am pursuing a degree in Nursing. My dream is to become a registered nurse and eventually a nurse practitioner, with a focus on providing compassionate care to rural communities, particularly in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. My business has given me the incredible privilege of connecting with extraordinary young women across Southeast Missouri, encouraging them to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. It has also inspired me to dedicate my life to helping others through nursing, combining my passion for service with my commitment to improving and saving lives. This journey has taught me the ripple effect of small acts of generosity in shaping communities. Receiving the Let Your Light Shine Scholarship would allow me to further my commitment to community service and achieve my goal of becoming a nurse, driven by compassion and a desire to create meaningful change.

At 12 years old, wearing ponytails, red Converse, and a Justin Bieber t-shirt, I skipped into the YMCA, ready to become the ping pong champion of Sikeston, MO. Little did I know that day would change my life. Amid what I thought would be a simple ping pong tournament, I encountered an opponent whose words would ignite a passion within me that I never knew I had and inspire me to change my community. During the tournament, while other girls chatted about school dances, my opponent shared she had never been to a dance because her parents couldn’t afford a dress. I walked swiftly out of the YMCA that day with a heavy heart but a determined purpose: I would make sure that every young woman in my community could attend their school dance wearing a beautiful dress and feel confident, loved, included, and empowered. That night, with my mom’s support, I created Leilani’s Dream Dresses—a business dedicated to providing affordable and free dresses to young women. What started as a spark of inspiration has since grown into a thriving small business that has touched the lives of many in my rural community by spreading kindness. Over the past eight years, I’ve transformed my garage into a dress boutique every spring. What I love most about this endeavor is not just the dresses but the confidence and self-worth it instills in the young women I serve. Since the beginning, I’ve donated 100% of rental profits to the Bulldog Pantry, which provides essential items to children in need, including coats, shoes, hygiene products, food and school supplies. I’ve contributed large donations and over 300 books to foster a love of learning among local youth. My business has also allowed me to organize events like a prom fashion show for residents of a local long-term care facility. Watching the residents clap, smile, and light up with excitement is a moment I will treasure forever. It reaffirmed my belief that kindness and love have the power to make this world a better place. One day I hope to open a store front that young women can walk into instead of my garage making them feel ten times more confident than when they walked in. I am currently a full-time student at Southeast Missouri State University, where I am pursuing a degree in Nursing. My dream is to become a registered nurse and eventually a nurse practitioner, with a focus on providing compassionate care to rural communities, particularly in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. My business has given me the incredible privilege of connecting with extraordinary young women across Southeast Missouri, encouraging them to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. It has also inspired me to dedicate my life to helping others through nursing, combining my passion for service with my commitment to improving and saving lives. This journey has taught me the ripple effect of small acts of generosity in shaping communities. Receiving the Elevate Black Entrepreneurs Scholarships would allow me to further my commitment to community service and achieve my goal of becoming a nurse, driven by compassion and a desire to create meaningful change.